HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 01-27 Parkside Fire Dept got its start in 1958 THE REVIEW Page 14 Tues.,Jan.27, 1976 THE REVIEW
By concerned citizens
• • •
Parkside Ftre Dept. got its start in 1958
by Jane Kennedy facilities there.
On a summery June night in 1958, a The department has seen the
group of concerned men from west retirement of two other volunteer firemen
Maplewood gathered at St. Jerome's — Walter Tysk and Phil Cognetta. ,
school for a meeting. Along with all the volunteering mem-
Their purpose? The residents were hers working in the department, West-
compelled to develop a volunteer fire brook acknowledged the beneficial ser-
department for the area. vices of the Ladies Auxiliary. "They're v
"With a lot of help from others," said the best bunch of girls you'd want to run t w s
Bob Westbrook, retired Parkside Fire into," boasted Westbrook. 'h
Chief, "the department got its start." He admits he doesn't know how the 7 1 _
According lit-i. , i.,,,,,„. tto,
to Westbrook,helpcame from station could have managed without the i; ` .,1 7 ._ — �+
neighboring departmentlike East auxiliary's help in working with the )it
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County Line,St.Paul, North St.Paul and department,buying equipment and other '' "" s w, §, ° ` "
Little Canada. services. • , �,, - ,v. y , g g = r -,, `,
Parkside Fire Station, set on nine and In 1970 a squad and meeting room was T7. " ' " `
one-half acres of land, is located at 2001 added to Parkside with much of the work < «;. " "" FIRE 0 EPT`
McMenemy. The department began to contributed by the members of the '' 4. - ,
take shape under the direction and at- department. -' a
tention of Westbrook, Eugene DeCorsey The present Parkside Fire Department _
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and Byron Holm. A crew of about 20-25 now maintains 39 volunteer firemen.This
men initially comprised the Parkside year's newly elected officers, as of Jan.
Volunteer Fire Department. Former 18, include: Thor Bodsgaard, Executive ,� ,�, '
Chief Westbrook remembers goingdoor- Chief, Gene Young, Operations Chief, Oh „•
to-door asking for volunteers. But Dean Svendsen, First Assistant 6 . "" 10' �: *
membership picked up as the department Operations Chief, Larry Svendsen, �" " ,
developed. Second Assistant Operations Chief, Tom
The first fire truck, a 1938 Chevrolet, Nielsen, Secretary, Bob Whitebread,
was purchased from Gladstone Fire Treasurer, Jerry O'Fallon, Assistant
Department for$300. And until a station Secretary-Treasurer, Kirk Duellman,
was built, the fire vehicle was housed on Finance Chairman,Chuck Skrypek,Chief
the Gene Dellis property on DeSoto. Engineer and Steve Dellis, Assistant MEMBERS OF the Parkside Volunteer Fire Dept.are shown in 1963 in front of the truck, a 1960 model Chevrolet.
With money accumulated by different Chief Engineer. department's second new fire truck.Also pictured at right is Parkside's first new
raffles, dinners and contributions from Acting as queen and princess for
people,a fire hall was constructed during Parkside are Sandy Duellman and Wendy
the winter of 1958-59. Svendsen, respectively. Both girls are
Westbrook recalled the department's seniors at Kellogg high school.
fire fire at the Northern Aire Motel. "We The department raises money through
did a good job with help from the Glad- various social functions such as an annual
stone Fire Department." St.Patrick's Day dance held at the Prom
Westbrook remarked about the first Ballroom.
years of the department's operation. "It On Saturday, Feb. 7 the Parkside Fire
was a lot of hard work running and work Department will be serving a spaghetti
until we got it going." dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. prepared by the
As a pioneer of the fire department,Bob area's top "Italian cook," Mama Vitale.
Westbrook held the title of Parkside Fire Tickets for the dinner are$1.50 per plate
Chief for 15 years until recently when he and may be purchased from any
medically retired. Auxiliary member or by calling 774-1216.
Now he is the station's only honorary Anyone interested in joining the
member. Not quite able to keep away Parkside Fire Department should contact
from Parkside, Westbrook still makes Bodsgaard at 776-8239 or Young at 771-
returns to the fire hall and attends to the 3390.
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